How to pimp up your porridge for ultimate nutrition

I love showing you how to take your family favourite meals and pimp them up for optimal nutrition.

There are so many different, creative ways you can pack a punch of nutrition into all your kids and family favourite meals, and at the same time curb their constant nagging for more food.

Take the humble porridge for example… you can watch me talk about how to pimp up your porridge here or just read on instead…

Why it’s already good?

Oats are rich in the B-complex vitamins which help convert our food into fuel, keeping our bodies energised throughout the day and help us have great hair and skin. Anti-oxidant vitamin E, protects our cells, organs and tissues from free radicals, warding off illness and disease. Oats contain soluble fibre which helps to keep us feeling satisfied as well as help our digestive system along. Soluble fibre also provides a food source for beneficial bacteria in the gut.

How you can make it better.

– Soak oats overnight in a warm water and yoghurt, kefir or buttermilk to neutralise phytic acid. Phytic acid is found in the outer layer of grains and blocks the absorption of essential mineral which can lead to deficiencies. Rinse off the oats in the next morning before cooking if you don’t like a sour tang to your porridge. If you are dairy-free you can use apple cider vinegar or lemon juice instead. Adding in a small amount of whole wheat spelt flour or rye flour will also help to reduce the high levels of phytic acid as they contain phytase, a natural enzyme which works to break down the phytic acid and release the beneficial nutrients.

– Grind up some flaxseeds and mix through the porridge to provide a good ratio of Omega 3’s which are great for our brain health and behaviour These are relatively tasteless. You could use chia seeds as well.

– Once cooked, mix in some butter or cream, whose fat-soluble activators provide the catalyst for mineral absorption and they make it super tasty!

– Ensure you add a natural sweetener like pure maple syrup, raw honey or a sprinkle of rapadura sugar rather than highly refined, processed sweetener.

– Top with blueberries which are full of anti-oxidants and research suggests that in addition to protecting against heart disease and diabetes and improving brain function, they may also help reduce visceral “toxic” belly fat—a type of fat that has been linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome.

As far as breakfast cereal goes, I always say, “you may as well eat the box’, it’s probably more nutritious than what’s inside! Here are 5 things to think about before you reach for the boxed cereal in the supermarket.